Archive for July 16th, 2011

Imported is WKMS’ premier international music program showcasing artists from all over the world. We combine an eclectic and genre-blending playlist with tracks by well-known and aspiring talent abroad. Hear Punjab, reggae, K-pop, indie, electronica and more from the mainstream to the culturally obscure.

IMPORTED [S01.E03]

Yeah, this playlist is pretty fun. We have a selection from MySpace-spawned, French band Yelle; another awesome track from our (2nd) fave musical Canadians: Malajube; and we succumb to one of Georgena’s favorite artists: Florence and the Machine (watch the video).

Here’s what’s in the mix for this Saturday night’s Weekend Energy. This week’s show is so long-awaited, so highly anticipated… lines forming around the block, blogs and YouTube tributes worldwide… it’s like the box-office blockbusting premiere of… Winnie the Pooh!

Highlights

Yelle – Que Veux Tu (Madeon Remix) – French singer Yelle has been at the top of my playlists for years. I’m especially fond of A Cause Des Garcons, Ce Jeu, Je Veux Te Voir, Qui Est Cette Fille, La Musique, Safari Disco Club and her vocals on Cooler Couleur by Crookers. Que Veux Tu is the latest single from her new album Safari Disco Club, and I think it’s even better than the title track, much more dance-able, more lively – tonally perhaps more American (or American-friendly). I’ve heard Yelle on NPR, so she’s definitely made a name for herself and really needs no endorsement from me. The music speaks for itself. I mean, check out this video of the remix in tonight’s show. Tell me it doesn’t wan to make you dance in public.

Durchblick – La Villa Sonderbar – Durchblick is German hipster glitch-pop. The title track from the EP La Villa Sonderbar is the most mainstream of the four tracks with catchy, monotone female vocals and a solid dark bassline. The glitch aspect comes out more in the third track – Scaramoush, full of clicks, bloops and heavy distortion. Great stuff! Durchblick shows their versatility on this EP, and I’d love to hear more of their work – possibly more of a blending of the two styles.

Power Francers and D-Bag – Pompo Nelle Casse (Avengers Remix) – Lots of foreign language music this week (unintentional!). Pompo Nelle Casse by Power Francers and D-Bag (great name), lives up to it’s name literally “pump in breakage.” This actually works because the beat and female vocals totally pumps in a slick breaks styling. The Avengers Remix doesn’t mess with the song too much, but gives it a bit of depth with more electro-synth. It’s a high-flying song with a peppering of sass that will have you shouting “Pompo Nelle Casse!” Like everyone in this video.

(After the jump read this week’s Discovery and what Almost Made It)

Discovery

William Breakspear

I normally wouldn’t put much rap in the Weekend Energy mix unless it somehow fit the format and was truly exceptional. Such is the case with the new single Innovation by William Breakspear. I saw the name first and thought, clever, totally British, love it. I was blown away by ten seconds of the song, due largely to the awesome Black Country British rapping of Credit to the Nation, juxtaposed by Georgina Upton’s harmonic singing. William slaps it all together with super tight breaks, some of the best this year. I had never heard of him until this song, so I did some educating and highly recommend Skydive, if you’re in to tons of versatility and superb mixing (with a bit of ragga sound), also Million Monkeys, which fuses breaks with dnb – resulting in a really rich sound. But first. hit up Innovation for some musical inspiration.

Here’s a 1 minute preview:

Almost Made It

Puppy Giant

Super Funk by Puppy Giant is absolutely huge. It’s a slamming hard hoppy electro banger, rife with all kinds of sampling – the kind of music one should expect from the name Puppy Giant. They almost made the mix this week and will surely be in next week’s mix. It’s the kind of song that takes over a playlist, and I already had a couple of those with William Breakspear and the incredible dubstep track Cobwebs by Skeptiks. I had The Slag’s Remix on the shortlist this week, which it a little bouncier and more robust than the original. Check out all the comments on this Soundcloud…

Second Hour Rewind

The second hour rewind is the previous week’s first hour. Featured artists include Kap Bambino, Emalkay, Ellie Goulding, The Death Set, Designer Drugs and more!

“Crank up your stereo, bust out the strobe light and kick up the bass.”

Weekend Energy has been blowing out car stereo systems, upsetting the neighbors and enhancing the night life of western Kentucky every weekend since July 2007 on WKMS. Host Matt “McG” Markgraf pours through hundreds of songs each week to create “the loudest show on public radio” featuring the best techno, dance and electronica from around the world.

Weekend Energy airs Saturdays on 91.3 WKMS from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Stream it live on wkms.org Saturday nights.

The Western Kentucky Botanical Garden in Owensboro wraps up the summer with Balloons Over The Garden, the last weekend of August. Originally part of the Dazzling Daylillies Festival last June, the event was rescheduled due to weather. On Sounds Good, Matt Markgraf speaks with Rob Blackham, Vice President of the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden Board and eng […]

A timeline is beginning to emerge on when Marshall County might actually see liquor sales after voters approved going wet earlier this week.Jason Darnall is the assistant county attorney and met Friday morning with judge-executive Chyrill Miller to discuss the process before them.

Following a national search, Murray State University has named its new Vice President of Marketing and Outreach. Dr. Adrienne King will begin her duties on September 1, pending approval of the board of regents.

A decision this week by the Boy Scouts of America to allow same-sex leaders has a Louisville man ready to serve.Greg Bourke was the leader of his son’s troop for 11 years before he was forced out for being openly gay. That was three years ago. This week, the organization ended its ban on gay adult leaders. Bourke says it was time.

The government of Rowan County, Kentucky, has denied any liability for the actions of its county clerk, who stopped issuing marriage licences this summer after the Supreme Court lifted same-sex marriage bans throughout the U.S.